Radio range measurements of coronal electron densities at 13 and 3. 6 centimeter wavelengths during the 1988 solar conjunction of Voyager 2

Journal Article · Mon Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Astrophysical Journal; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/186087· OSTI ID:5318377

Krisher, T P; Anderson, J D; Morabito, D D; Asmar, S W; Borutzki, S E; Delitsky, M L; Densmore, A C; Eshe, P M; Lewis, G D; Maurer, M J ^[1]

---

1. JPL, Pasadena, CA (USA)

Radio range measurements of total solar plasma delay obtained during the solar conjunction of the Voyager 2 spacecraft in December 1988, which occurred near solar maximum activity in the 11 yr cycle are reported. The radio range measurements were generated by the Deep Space Network at two wavelengths on the downlink from the spacecraft: 3.6 and 13 cm. A direct measurement of the integrated electron density along the ray path between the earth stations and the spacecraft was obtained by differencing the range at the two wavelengths. Coronal electron density profiles have been derived during ingress and egress of the ray path, which approached the sun to within 5 solar radii. At 10 solar radii, the derived density profiles yield 34079 {plus minus} 611/cu cm on ingress and 49688 {plus minus} 983/cu cm on egress. These density levels are significantly higher than observed near previous solar maxima. 19 refs.

• OSTI ID: 5318377
• Journal Information: Astrophysical Journal; (United States), Journal Name: Astrophysical Journal; (United States) Vol. 375; ISSN ASJOA; ISSN 0004-637X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640104* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Solar Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
ELECTRON DENSITY
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
PLASMA DENSITY
RADAR
RANGE FINDERS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR ATMOSPHERE
SOLAR CORONA
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
SPACE VEHICLES
STELLAR ATMOSPHERES
STELLAR CORONAE
VEHICLES
VOYAGER SPACE PROBES